The Jarvis Family and Other Relatives

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Boyer Family

First Generation:

Jacob Bucher (1701, Bern, Switzerland -1760, PA) m. Elizabeth Steffen, (1705, Bern, Switzerland-?). Jacob and his sons, Henrich and Jacob arrived from Switzerland on the Mercury, May 29, 1735. His wife and other children are not listed as passengers.

Henry and Catherine Boyer were the sponsors for Adam Spoon (Spainhouer), son of Adam and Mary Spoon, October 27, 1783, Shiloh Lutheran Church, Lewisville, NC

This indenture made the twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five between Jacob Boun of the County of Stokes, State of N. Carolina of the one part, and Henry Boyer of the County aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of thirty seven pounds current money of the said State to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given granted bargained & sold & by these presents doth give grant bargain & sell unto the said Henry Boyer Jun. Grant a tract of land lying and being in the said County of Stokes on Muddy Creek beginning at a pine running south seven chains and forty seven links to a pine, East twenty four chains to a hickory, South two and a half chains to a post oak, East twenty eight chains and forty links to a Water Beach on said Creek, thence up side Creek as it meanders to a Maple being the corner of a tract conveyed by Fred. Wm. Marshall to said Boun. Then West fifty three & a half chains to the beginning, containing forty seven acres be the same more or less being part of a tract of land conveyed by said Marshall to said Boun. To have and to hold to the said Henry Boyer and his heirs and assigns forever. An the said Jacob Boun for himself his heirs executors and Adms. doth hereby covenant and agree to and with the said Henry Boyer Jun. his heirs and assigns & shall and may forever hereafter peaceably and quitely have, hold occupy posses and enjoy the said land & premises together with all its appuntenances, rights, privileges & Improvements without molestation from any person Whatsoever to himself & his heirs executors & adam. to warrant & defend the said land & premises and Demand of all personal whatsoever. In witnesseth whereof the said Jacob Boun hath known to set his hand & seal the say written first above. Signed sealed and acknowledged before us Wm. Thorton and Robt. Elrod. Witness: Jacob Boun (seal). Stokes Co. NC, Sept. Term 1795. The execution of the above Deed was duly proved in Open Court by the Oath of Robert Elrod, and Ordered to be Registered. Test: Robt. Williams, CC

Anna Boyer's Will was proven in Stokes County, NC June Term, 1843. She bequeathed to her son Joseph the plantation, stock, household furniture and the family Bible. To her daughter Lydia, she left "wearing apparel, etc." Witnessed by Jno. Blackburn, Philip Whitmore and Elizabeth (x) Harper.

This family moved to Kentucky before 1810 and stayed at least until 1827, then moved into Illinois in Macoupin, Sagamon and Morgan counties, IL. Robert and Delilah Boyer are buried in Morgan Co., IL. I was unable to identify Sarah and Elizabeth Boyer in the 1850 census.

Lucinda Mariah Boyer is either the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Harper Boyer, or the illegitimate daughter of Mary Jane Boyer before her marriage to Tennison Jarvis or Thomas Boyer didn't die in 1842. Her name is not mentioned in the settlement of Thomas Boyer's estate. We have a death date of 1842 for Thomas Boyer, can anyone confirm that? It is an interesting note that in the 1910 census record, the last census that Mary Jane Boyer Jarvis would appear in, she states she had 8 children, 5 of which are living. I have record of seven children being born to Mary Jane and Tennison Jarvis. The 1880 Forsyth County Census shows Jensy Vogler, age 47 and a sister living in the same household named "Boyer Vogler" and is not identified by her first name. It could be either Nancy or Lucinda Mariah.

There are several NC land and deed records which indicate that this Elizabeth Boyer was a single woman or a widow as early as 1838. She is listed as "one of the heirs at law" of John Boyer. Since John Boyer's wife was Olive Watkins, then I have assumed she is John Boyer's daughter and single. In several land records Elizabeth is never listed as John's wife, nor the wife of any other Boyer.

One document, a Deed of Gift, signed by a Elizabeth Boyer, made me question if these are indeed her children. Why would a mother of 3 girls and one son bequeath what appears to be all of her material belongings to a child of Adam McKnight and Nancy West? I did not find any other document that connects the McKnight and Boyer families. The Deed of Gift reads as follows:

"Know all men by these presents that I Elizabeth Boyer of the county aforesaid for .....good reasons....... have this 12 day of July 1838 given and bequeathed unto Juliana McKnight, daughter of Adam McKnight all the following property forever to wit: one bed, a ..... cupboard, 4 chairs, 1 glass and all the kitchen furniture, one pot and oven, seven light pewter plates, ten earthen plates, one ax and one maddock, one sow and pigs, one barrell...., all of which the said Julian shall have and hold as her own property. Nevertheless the named property shall remain in the hands of her parents in trust until she arrives at the age of eighteen years. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Elizabeth (x) Boyer"

Who is Mary/Mariah Boyer (born abt.1835) that married William T. Ketner (1838-1862) in 1862 and 2) Thomas Slater? Nancy Slater who is the gr-gr-granddaughter of Mary (Polly) Boyer has a deed transaction that lists: Mary (Polly) Slater, Paulina Brewer, Elizabeth Beroth, & John Boyer. She also found the reference to the a court case where Mary Boyer Slater petitioned for the return of her dower property after the death of her husband Thomas and the court appointment of her "Uncle John Boyer" to appraise the estate.

Rayford Boyer, age 35, enlisted June 11, 1861, Forsyth Co., NC, as a Private into "K" Company, NC 21st Infantry. He died on January 29, 1862, Manassas, VA.

Ralph A. Boyer, age 22, enlisted June 11, 1861, Forsyth Co., NC, as a Private into "K" Company, NC 21st Infantry. He died on January 29, 1862, Manassas, VA.

Previously we incorretly stated on this page that Francis (Frank) Alexander Reich married Sarah Boyer. Frank Reich moved to Iowa with his parents sometime after 1850 and before 1860. In 1860, 1870, and 1880 Frank Reich was living at home with his parents and siblings. The 1910 census for Appanoose, Iowa shows that Frank's wife was named Pearl W. and that he had married only once at the age of 35 or about in 1885. Sarah Boyer, dau. of John and Anna died before 1860.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Forsyth Co., NC, Caroline McKnight, age 20, is found in two households. The first, is the household of Marion McKnight who appears to be her husband. In that same household is a child, Lydia, born about 1857, who appears to be the child of Caroline and Marion. In the same census, Caroline McKnight, age 20, is in the household of her parents, John and Anna Boyer. In the 1870 census Caroline McKnight is head of the household with daughter Ella L., age 9. It is possible that Ella L. and Lydia are the same child. They are living next door to Joseph Boyer.

"Junius Boyer, (died) Jan. 3, 1889 at his home about nine miles west of Salem, in the 41st year of his age, of penumonia. Mr. Boyer for the past two years served as general storekeeper and gauger in the internal revenue service. He was a well-known and highly respected citizen and leaves a wife, one child, two sisters, and a brother, John Boyer, the ex-sheriff of Forsyth County". (Death Notices from the People's Press (Salem, NC) 1851-1892, Robert M. Topkins)